Huntington
– Town of Huntington and Huntington Hospital Northwell Health officials were
joined by New York State and Suffolk County officials to dedicate View Acre
Drive as Cornelia Prime Way to honor Huntington Hospital’s female benefactor,
Cornelia Prime, on Cornelia Prime Day, Thursday, August 1, 2019, to coincide
with the installation of the original plaque honoring Cornelia Prime's gift at
the main entrance of the hospital the same day.
Town
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci; Councilman Mark Cuthbertson; Councilwoman Joan
Cergol; Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia; Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman; and staff
members from Councilman Ed Smyth and Highway Superintendent Kevin S. Orelli’s
offices represented the Town at the ceremony.
Supervisor
Chad A. Lupinacci stated: “Cornelia Prime was one of the most generous
philanthropists of the early twentieth century, and we, as residents of
Huntington, have reaped the benefits of her generosity. The movement to
establish the original Huntington Hospital was an effort largely spearheaded by
women.”
At the
turn of the twentieth century, discussions arose about the need for a hospital
in Huntington; the closest hospital at the time was in Mineola. Many attempts
were made to fundraise for a new hospital, but it was only until 1911, when
Mrs. Roland Conklin of Rosemary Farm was selected as chair of the Huntington
Association committee, that any movement ensued. Mrs. Conklin, along with 16
other women, put on a performance of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and raised
$2,000, spring-boarding a push for a new hospital. Another woman, Lucie
Winkworth, is also attributed with the inspiration for Huntington Hospital.
Winkworth began her own small private hospital, Winkworth Hospital, the
day-to-day operations of which exposed the need for an up-to-date,
better-equipped facility.
When
fundraising finally picked up, disputes emerged over the location of the new
hospital, but Cornelia Prime took matters into her own hands. She purchased a
five-acre site on Park Avenue in December 1914, paying $20,000 for the property
and its conversion into a hospital. When it was later decided that a new
hospital should be built, Ms. Prime remained supportive of the cause, and
agreed to underwrite the full cost of construction. The total gift, including
the land purchase and construction of the new buildings, amounted to $75,000,
the equivalent of $1.17 million today.
Cornelia
Prime’s legacy doesn’t end with Huntington Hospital. She and her family also
helped finance the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, which housed the
first library in town; the clock tower on Old Town Hall; St. John’s Episcopal
Church on Main Street; Grace Chapel in Huntington Station (now Mt. Calvary Holy
Church of Huntington); and the Trade School Building on Main Street.
“It is a
proud feeling to have such community-focused extraordinary former residents and
to be able to give credit where credit is due, especially where it has been
long overdue in the case of Huntington’s history-making and trailblazing
women,” said Supervisor Lupinacci.
Councilman
Mark Cuthbertson stated: “If Cornelia Prime could be here today, she would be
so proud seeing her vision for a community hospital turn into this full
service, fantastic medical facility that we have today in Huntington Hospital
Northwell Health. I am proud to be here today to honor her legacy by naming
View Acre Drive as Cornelia Prime Way.”
Councilwoman
Joan Cergol said: “When we look at Huntington Hospital today, its ranking as
the top community hospital in New York State and how much it means to our
residents, we should all reflect on how much we owe to Cornelia Prime’s
civic-mindedness and her generosity. She was one of the first in a long line of
women who have made significant contributions to our Town, and deservedly the
first – but certainly not the last – to merit a street name.”
Town
Clerk Jo-Ann Raia stated: “It was a pleasure to see the Town of Huntington and
Northwell Hospital honor Cornelia Prime, a philanthropic woman who had the
foresight to donate the funds to purchase the land and build a hospital for our
residents. The dedication of Cornelia Prime Way will bring attention to another
noteworthy historical site.”
Receiver
of Taxes Jillian Guthman said: “A key consideration in evaluating a community
is how it treats its most vulnerable members. Cornelia Prime’s vision and
generosity shows her commitment to caring for others which has so dramatically
added to strength of our community. This is clearly emphasized when you reflect
on the prestigious ranking of Huntington Hospital, Northwell Health. As a
life-long resident of Huntington, Huntington Hospital has played a pivotal role
for my family during many critical occasions, the most joyous of which was the
birth of my daughter.”
“Today
is the day we honor Cornelia Prime, Huntington Hospital's female benefactor who
donated not only the land but the building for Huntington Hospital. This
generous gift allowed our community to have a hospital to serve its needs, and
grow as we have grown as a community. I not only thank Cornelia Prime for her
generosity, but I also would like to thank the staff members of Huntington
Hospital who continue to serve our community in their time of need,” said
Councilman Eugene Cook.
“I am so
honored to have been a part of Cornelia Prime Day and the renaming of View Acre
Drive as View Acre Drive/Cornelia Prime Way. It is great to see philanthropist
Cornelia Prime, whose most notable gift to the Huntington community was the
donation of land, the original building and an endowment for Huntington
Hospital be honored in such a special way,” said Councilman Ed Smyth.
“The
Town of Huntington is rich in history and there are many early trailblazers who
have left an indelible mark on this town. One such Huntingtonian, Cornelia
Prime (1838-1923), was recently honored by having View Acre Drive in Huntington
dedicated and renamed in her honor. View Acre Drive is a lifeline access
road to Huntington Hospital’s Emergency Room. For those who have been treated
at Huntington Hospital or who were born there like me, owe a debt of gratitude
to Cornelia Prime. Ms. Prime donated the land and the resources to fund the
hospital’s construction in 1914 and has since become one of the most top ranked
community hospitals in New York State. The August 1st street dedication also
marks the first time in the Town’s history for having a street named in a
woman’s honor,” stated Highway Superintendent Kevin Orelli.
Representing
Huntington Hospital Northwell Health at the ceremony were Keith Friedlander,
Chairman of the Board, Huntington Hospital Board of Trustees; Susan Knoepffler,
RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer; and James Romanelli, MD, MBA,
Chief of Staff.
“We were
so honored to celebrate Cornelia Prime's legacy with Town of Huntington
supervisor Chad Lupinacci and other elected officials,’ said Keith Friedlander,
Huntington Hospital's Chairman, Board of Trustees. “Ms. Prime's generosity and
vision to purchase land for a much-needed hospital for the community speaks to
how one person can make such a difference. It is a lesson for all of us, that
when we want something done, we have to pick up that mantle and make it happen.
Ms. Prime would be so happy today to see how Huntington Hospital has grown over
the decades, which was recently ranked by US News & World Report as the
12th best hospital and the highest ranked community hospital in New York State,
and also received a national ranking for the hospital's orthopedics program. We
continue to carry on Ms. Prime's legacy in making Huntington Hospital the
premier destination for the community to receive the best possible care on Long
Island's North Shore.”
Senator
James Gaughran, Assemblyman Andrew P. Raia and TJ Hatter, on behalf of Attorney
General Tish James, represented New York State at the ceremony.
“Cornelia
Prime was a trailblazer during a time when women lacked the fundamental right
to vote, so it's fitting she be the first woman the Town of Huntington rename a
street after. Cornelia Prime's generosity extended far beyond her donations to
the hospital, expanding to every corner of our community. I look forward to
continuing to recognize and thank her philanthropy and dedication to our
community each time I pass "Cornelia Prime Way." Thank you Supervisor
Lupinacci for recognizing such a pillar of our community,” said Senator James
Gaughran.
Assemblyman
Andrew Raia stated: “Cornelia Prime contributed so much to the development and
wellbeing of the Huntington community, and the actions she took over a century
ago continue to positively impact our residents to this day. It was an absolute
pleasure to attend the street dedication ceremony organized by Supervisor
Lupinacci as well as the laying of a commemorative plaque in Huntington
Hospital to honor Ms. Prime’s legacy.”
“I was
proud to be able to take part in this significant day honoring Cornelia Prime,
a person whose generosity has had a profound and lasting impact on the history
of our town. As a result of her gift, Huntington Hospital is a fixture in the
community that has provided families with high quality, innovative, medical
care for the past century. I applaud the Hospital and Town of Huntington for
their efforts to permanently memorialize Cornelia’s legacy,” stated Legislator
William R. Spencer, who represented Suffolk County at the ceremony.
Last
year, the original plaque honoring Cornelia Prime's gift was found, covered in
paint, in the basement of the original 1915 hospital building. The hospital
restored the plaque and has permanently reinstalled it at the main entrance of
the hospital for Cornelia Prime Day.
In a
letter addressed to Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci in May 2019, Dr. Nick
Fitterman, Executive Director of Huntington Hospital Northwell Health, asked
the Town to rename View Acre Drive as Cornelia Prime Way and declare August 1st
Cornelia Prime Day to honor Cornelia Prime – perhaps the most influential
female resident in Huntington's history – and her extraordinary gift to the
Huntington community.
At their
June 18, 2019 meeting, the Town Board designated August 1, 2019 as Cornelia
Prime Day and renamed View Acre Drive as View Acre Drive/Cornelia Prime Way,
after philanthropist Cornelia Prime, whose most notable gift to the Huntington
community was the donation of land, the original building and an endowment for
Huntington Hospital.
[VIDEO LINK: http://huntingtonny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=1905]
In
the photos (l-r): At street sign unveiling: Assemblyman Andrew Raia; Susan
Knoepffler; James Romanelli; Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia; Councilman Mark
Cuthbertson; Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci handling Cornelia Prime Day
proclamation to Keith Friedlander; Councilwoman Joan Cergol. Press conference
with original Huntington Hospital in background. A young Cornelia Prime (photo
credit: Huntington Historical Society).
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